Audiologists

Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Job Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Examples

These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.

Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders. May fit hearing aids and provide auditory training. May perform research related to hearing problems.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $56K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $68K
Median Salary: $81K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $102K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $128K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Maintain patient records at all stages, including initial and subsequent evaluation and treatment activities.

Evaluate hearing and balance disorders to determine diagnoses and courses of treatment.

Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices, such as hearing aids.

Administer hearing tests and examine patients to collect information on type and degree of impairment, using specialized instruments and electronic equipment.

Monitor patients' progress and provide ongoing observation of hearing or balance status.

Instruct patients, parents, teachers, or employers in communication strategies to maximize effective receptive communication.

Counsel and instruct patients and their families in techniques to improve hearing and communication related to hearing loss.

Participate in conferences or training to update or share knowledge of new hearing or balance disorder treatment methods or technologies.

Refer patients to additional medical or educational services, if needed.

Advise educators or other medical staff on hearing or balance topics.

Examine and clean patients' ear canals.

Program and monitor cochlear implants to fit the needs of patients.

Recommend assistive devices according to patients' needs or nature of impairments.

Educate and supervise audiology students and health care personnel.

Plan and conduct treatment programs for patients' hearing or balance problems, consulting with educators, physicians, nurses, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and other health care personnel, as necessary.

Work with multidisciplinary teams to assess and rehabilitate recipients of implanted hearing devices through auditory training and counseling.

Conduct or direct research on hearing or balance topics and report findings to help in the development of procedures, technology, or treatments.

Perform administrative tasks, such as managing office functions and finances.

Provide information to the public on hearing or balance topics.

Engage in marketing activities, such as developing marketing plans, to promote business for private practices.

Develop and supervise hearing screening programs.

Measure noise levels in workplaces and conduct hearing conservation programs in industry, military, schools, and communities.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Customer relationship management CRM software
Customer relationship management CRM software
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Medical software
Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Tablet computers
Hand tools
Hearing aid repair drills
Independent living aids for the physically challenged
Hearing aids
Lamps and lightbulbs and lamp components
Digital light bars
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Sound level meters
Patient care and treatment products and supplies
Impression syringes
Patient exam and monitoring products
Audiometers
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Video goggles
Physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation products
Posturography dynamic platforms
Surgical products
Operating microscopes
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
97%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Therapy and Counseling
92%
Importance

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Psychology
87%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Medicine and Dentistry
86%
Importance

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

English Language
84%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics
82%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Sales and Marketing
82%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Biology
79%
Importance

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Education and Training
79%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Clerical
74%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
83%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension
83%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning
80%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking
80%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness
80%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking
80%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing
80%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Judgment and Decision Making
75%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring
75%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Complex Problem Solving
73%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
83%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension
83%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Deductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity
80%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Speech Clarity
78%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Near Vision
75%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Recognition
75%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
98%
Importance

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Interacting With Computers
96%
Importance

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
96%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
95%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
95%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Getting Information
93%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information
92%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
92%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
88%
Importance

Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
87%
Importance

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Detailed Work Activities

Record patient medical histories.

Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.

Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices.

Test patient hearing.

Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

Maintain medical or professional knowledge.

Administer basic health care or medical treatments.

Recommend types of assistive devices.

Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.

Enter patient or treatment data into computers.

Train medical providers.

Supervise patient care personnel.

Develop medical treatment plans.

Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

Present medical research reports.

Manage healthcare operations.

Communicate health and wellness information to the public.

Merchandise healthcare products or services.

Inspect work environments to ensure safety.

Conduct health or safety training programs.

Develop health assessment methods or programs.

Work Context
Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Physical Proximity

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Frequency of Decision Making

How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Education
Majors
Major
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Interests
Investigative
96%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Social
91%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Conventional
53%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Realistic
39%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Artistic
34%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising
24%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
99%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Concern for Others
98%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Dependability
92%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail
91%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Cooperation
91%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Initiative
89%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Persistence
87%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Independence
85%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Self Control
84%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility
83%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Work Values
Relationships
91%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
79%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Independence
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Support
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.